Delap Returns as The Blues Seek to Fix Forward Concerns
Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The West London club lost 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with boss Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "not the best".
Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (evening kickoff), having missed 10 games since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.
Maresca said the 22-year-old will be phased in "carefully", and the summer signing's return is vital for a side facing criticism over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of winning a trophy this campaign.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for a £30 million fee despite attention from Manchester United, St James' Park side and Everton.
Yet the young English striker was behind expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three matches as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the America. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three setups in his opening quartet of league fixtures after arriving from Brighton.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his last seven games. Maresca stated he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "shielded".
When asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "Definitely the physical part is vital. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, especially in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes each year. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to get goals and give assists but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals each year like the Bayern legend, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Forward Line
Chelsea deal with wider issues in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's drought.
Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches all season and is not anticipated to feature from a groin problem until December.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has zero strikes and a single assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven outings and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has shown promise since moving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has only two goals and a single assist - paralleling academy forward Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from full-back last campaign, is without a goal this season. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his last two games, but prior to that found the net just once in the opening ten matches.
After thirteen fixtures in every tournament no striker has above two scores, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals.
Queried whether a shortage of clinical finishers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last term."
Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, one behind Arsenal. In moreover, the Stamford Bridge side are the pioneering side to have ten distinct net-finders in the Premier League this campaign.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea fans believe the number nine shirt - assigned to Delap in the off-season - is cursed. It had been vacant since 2023, and footballers who donned it since the mid-2000s have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances
A engine room operator and defensive specialist are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with nine on their back.
But Delap was unconcerned when asked about the curse. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he said at the Club World Cup.
"At the end of the day it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a digit that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."
